Manatee's blast from the past

Three plays, three stops, one punt. That’s all it was, but nothing would ever be the same again in the world of Manatee High football.

The Hurricanes’ ascent to the nation’s top team can be traced back to Dec. 11, 2009, an unforgettable night that restored the luster to a once mighty program and served as the springboard to what it has become today.

Manatee Hurricanes football player Deonte Huggins celebrates with his mom Danna a 28 to 20 victory over the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders December 11, 2009 during the Class 5A State semifinal matchup at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton. Photo by Tom Bender

In the state semifinals at Manatee High, the Hurricanes shocked St. Thomas Aquinas 28-20, and to dissect that win reveals the importance of the first three plays of the game.

Had they occurred differently, perhaps Manatee football does not become nationwide.

St. Thomas Aquinas came into the 2009 game with a 37-game win streak, including consecutive Class 5A state titles, and at the time was ranked first in the country.

When Manatee made the Raiders punt on the game’s first series, the Hurricanes’ confidence began to surge until it could not be stopped.

“That set the tone, because then they believed they could win that game and that game has set the tone for everything that has happened afterwards,” said Manatee assistant coach Jim Phelan.

Manatee travels to St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday for the Class 7A semifinals, and the rivalry is now one of the most competitive in the state.

This will be the third time the schools have met in the playoffs where national championship hopes have been on the line.

Manatee High School wide receiver Ace Sanders scores his first touchdown against St. Thomas Aquinas during their matchup in the FHSAA 5A State Semifinal matchup in Bradenton, Fla., on Friday, December 11, 2009.Photo by Chip Litherland

As for the epic 2009 game, the pregame speech was even more chilling than usual with several former Manatee stars making appearances.

“I’ve never seen it so emotional,” said assistant coach Dennis Stallard.

Prior to the game, St. Thomas Aquinas players ran to midfield and did jumping jacks in front of the Manatee players. Or at least it appeared as if the team was doing them.

“St. Thomas awoke every sleeping legend who ever played in this stadium that night and they had no idea they did it,” said Manatee assistant Steve Gulash. “People still dispute it, but when we came out to stretch, St. Thomas came out from their goal line to the 50 and started talking trash and jumping on our emblem and it almost ended up a fight.

“Cris Carter (former NFL player) was right in the middle of it, running his mouth and not holding people back and that was it.

“For some reason the power was in the kids and they believed.”

Manatee Hurricane cheerleader Kellen Osmond celebrates a 28 to 20 victory over the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders Friday evening December 11, 2009 during the Class 5A State semifinal matchup at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton. Photo by Thomas Bender

Aquinas’ first play of the game was a screen that went nowhere. Manatee’s Clint Heaven made the tackle. The next play was a run off tackle and Heaven made another stop for no gain. The third play was a second screen for a few yards and the Raiders were forced to punt.

What the win in 2009 did more than anything was put Manatee on the national radar.

Manatee went on to play for the state championship that year, and fell to Tampa Plant, 21-14.

But in a Kickoff Classic the next fall, Manatee pounded Plant in a rematch. It didn’t count in the standings, but it was played with regular-season intensity.

ESPN televised the game, the first time Manatee had appeared on the network, and now fans across the country could see the ‘Canes. Current Manatee quarterback Cord Sandberg made his first varsity start on ESPN and would go on to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

Manatee began the 2010 season 13-0 but lost to Aquinas in the state semifinals. Aquinas was named national champions that season.

Manatee has not lost to a Florida team since losing that game.

Manatee coaching legend Eddie Shannon smiles from the sidelines during the big win in 2009.

Manatee has played two out-of-state games since beating Aquinas in 2009, and was scheduled to play in Seattle this year until financial support fell through.

Manatee has become a very appealing opponent to out-of-state schools. Eden Prairie, a team in Minneapolis, was hoping to travel to Bradenton next season, but could not make the finances work, even though the Minnesota Vikings were said to be interested in helping out.

Largely because of the Aquinas win in 2009, Manatee struck a two-year apparel deal with UnderArmour in 2010. A new three-year contract was signed after Manatee won the state title last year.

“It was big,” said Manatee coach Joe Kinnan of the 2009 win over Aquinas. “In the mid-90s, we had lost our luster until really when I came back (in 2004). And really, we still didn’t have it until we beat them in ‘09.”

Manatee stopping Aquinas on the first three plays of the 2009 game turned out to be a huge moment for the program, and eventually how it is perceived nationally.

It was kind of like the 2004 Boston Red Sox, when pinch-runner Dave Roberts stole second base in the ninth inning of Game 4 in the ALCS against the New York Yankees. Boston trailed the series 3-0 at the time.

Roberts went on to score the tying run, Boston won in 12 innings and it was the start of eight straight wins that led to the team's first World Series title since 1918.

Who knew a stolen base could amount to what it eventually did?

And who knew three plays could amount to what they eventually did?

“Those three plays I’ll never forget,” said Phelan.

Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson is an award-winning sports reporter for the Herald Tribune.

Last modified: December 4, 2012
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